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SIGN.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @Frise VALTER E. FURBUSI-I, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS'.

SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,598, dated October 1, 1901.

Application filed January 19, 1901. Serial No. 43,905. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALTER E. FURBUSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The presentinvention relates to an improvement in signs.

The object of the present invention is to produce a sign in which the symbol-bearing members are changeable.

To the above end the present invention consists in the sign hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings my invention is shown as embodied in a collectiontime indicator for inail-boxes; but it is not specifically limited thereto, as my invention contemplates, broadly, they use of changeable symbol-bearing members arranged to be positively locked in the desired position.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a front view, and Fig. 2 a

back view, of my improved sign. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line c d, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a sectional View on line a b looking toward the left.

In the drawings, l -represents the frame of my device, provided with apertures 20, 21, 22, and 23 and the studs 3, upon which the symbol-bearing members or dials 4 and 5 are mounted. These dials 4 and 5 in the illustrated embodiment 0f my invention are hexagL onal and provided with suitable symbols for indicating the hour and minute. These dials are reversible, so that both sides may be utilized for the symbols. For instance, dial 4 will bear upon its front face the numbers l to 6, inclusive, and on its back face numbers' 7 to 12, inclusive, so that any hour of the day may be indicated. In the same way dial 5 bears upon its front face the numbers LG 5,77 $10,77 E :15,77 20,73 (25,77 6( 30,77 upon its back face the numbers 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and a dash, so that by combining the two dials the time of collection may be indicated. Sockets 6 are provided in the frame 1, into which the dials may be moved upon the studs 3 to hold said dials positively from rotation. These sockets are hexagonal to correspond to the dials and so formed that the desired symbols will c ome opposite the apertures 2O and 21, respectively. The dial 7 is octagonal and bears upon one face the abbreviations of the different days of the week and the symbols A. M. and on the opposite face the abbreviations ot' the days ot the week and the symbols P. M. The studs 3 are slotted, as shown at 8, to receive the dial 7 and positively hold it in any position, so that one of the abbreviations of the days of the week and the symbols RM. (or A. M.) shall come opposite the apertures 22 and 23, respectively, as shown at Fig. 3. The dial 7 positively locks the dials 4 and 5 in their respective sockets.

My invention also contemplates the use of a suitable locking device, as the screw 9, screwed into the support for the sign for locking the dial 7 in position by engaging the top of the dial 7 and preventing withdrawal from the slots 6. When my sign is used as a collection-time indicator for mailboxes, the frame 1 is preferably pivotally mounted upon the mail-box by the hinge 10 or some equivalent device and has some suitable locking means for holding the frame in position, as the lug 11, provided with the notch to receive the washer 12. Recesses 13 are provided alongside of the dials 4 and 5, so that access may be had to the dials to remove them from their sockets.

The operation 'of my improved sign as a collection-time indicator is as follows: When the mail is collected, the postman will unlock the frame 1 and swing it down about the hinge 9, thus unlocking dial 7. The dial 7 is then withdrawn from slots 6, thereby unlocking dials 4 and 5, which may be lifted out of their sockets and turned about their supports into the desired position or removed entirely and reversed to bring one of the symbols on the reverse face into proper position. These members are then moved into their sockets 6, the dial 7 turned to bring the proper symbols beneath the apertures 22 and 23, and reinserted in the slots 6. The whole frame is then swung into position, the lug passing through the hole provided in the box for the purpose, and the Washer 12 pushed over the lug and dropped into the notch, in which position the screw 9 will prevent the dial 7 from being raised.

It is to be noted that my invention is not limited to any particular shape of dials, as in its broader aspects it contemplates the use of coperating recesses or projections in either the dial or the support therefor to lock the dial in its various positions. Furthermore, it is to be noted that my invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the employment of one of the dials for locking the other dials in position, as other means might be employed for this purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. A sign, having, in combination, a frame provided with an aperture, a symmetricallyshaped dial provided with symbols symmetrically disposed thereon, a stud upon which said dial is mounted, a correspondinglyshaped socket into which said dial may be moved, and held from rotation therein arranged to cause certain symbols to register with the aperture, and means for locking the dial in the socket, substantially as described.

2. A sign, having, in combination, a frame, a series of dials carrying symbols, the dia-ls and frame being provided with cooperating recesses and projections, and means for locking the dials in adjusted position, substantially as described.

3. A sign, having, in combination, a frame provided with apertures, a series of dials carried by the frame and bearing symbols adapted to be presented to the apertures, one of the dials acting to hold the other dials in adceases j usted position, and means for holding said dial, substantially as described.

4. A sign, having, in combination, a frame provided with a series of apertures and slotted studs, dials adapted to be supported on said slotted studs, a dial adapted to enter said slotted studs and hold the other dials in position thereon, substantially as described.

5. Asign, having, in combination, a frame provided with a series of apertures and slotted studs, dials adapted to be received on said slotted studs, a dial adapted to be received in the slots in said stud and to hold the former dials in adjusted position, substan tiall y as described.

6. A sign, having, in combination, a frame provided with a series of apertures, two slotted studs to receive two dials andrecesses to receive said dials, a dial adapted to enter said slots and hold said former dials in their recesses, and means for holding the last-named dial from withdrawal from the slotted studs, substantially as described.

7. A sign, having, in combination, a frame provided with a series of apertures to indicate, respectively, the day of the week, the part of the day, the hour and the minute, a dial bearing on one side the days of the week and one part of the day and upon the other side the days of the week and the other part of the day, two dials, the one bearing the hours of the day and the other the minutes of the hour, and means for holding the dials in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VALTER E. FURBUSH.

Witnesses:

HORACE VAN EVEREN, ALFRED H. HILDRETH. 

